Air cleaner for knitting machines



Aug. 11, 1953 R. c. REINHARDT ETAL 2,6

AIR CLEANER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l/z INVENTORS, f-

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BY ggwm ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1953 R. c, mH D-r ET AL 2,648,209

AIR CLEANER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORJ.

BY 5 PW ATTOR NE Yi Patented Aug. 11, 1953 AIR CLEANER FOR KNITTINGMAOHIN ES Robert C. Reinhardt and Fred L. Hefner, Newton, N. 0.,assignors to Clyde Fabrics, Inc., Newton, N. 0., a corporation ofDelaware Application September 14, 1951, Serial No. 246,646

4 Claims. (Cl. 66-168) This invention relates to an improved air cleanerfor a circular knitting machine and more especially to a cleaningmechanism for such machine having a rotating needle cylinder andstationary needle control elements.

It is an object of this invention to provide a relatively simple andeconomically constructed cleaning mechanism for knitting machines of thetype described wherein the knitting machine has a plurality ofcircularly spaced groups of needle control elements thereon, and saidcleaning mechanism including a means which rotates with the needlecylinder and is positioned above the needle control elements and whichwill direct blasts of compressed air downwardly onto each of the groupsof the needle control elements successively to thereby clear away lintor foreign matter which may collect on the needle control elements.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved aircleaner for circular knittin machines, said knitting machines beingcharacterized by a driven rotating needle cylinder with circularlyspaced groups of needle control elements positioned adjacent andgenerally above the needles and said knitting machine also having arotatable cloth rack disposed thereabove to which the knitted fabric isdirected from the needles, and said cloth rack having take-up meansthereon for taking up the fabric as it is knitted. The improvementincludes an improved bearing structure disposed at the upper end of thecloth rack and which assists in supporting the upper end of the clothrack for rotation in unison with the needle cylinder and a unique rotarycon- 1 nection in said bearing which has a pipe extending from asuitable source of compressed air connected to the upper end thereof andto the lower end of which connection a second pipe is connected todirect compressed air through the rotary connection. The second pipeextends downwardly along one side of the cloth rack and is bent inwardlyto form a horizontally disposed portion at a point above the uppersurfaces of said needle control elements, and this horizontally disposedportion of the second pipe is provided with downwardly directedperforations or openings therein thus comprising a nozzle. Thus, uponrotation of the needle cylinder and the cloth rack, the second pipe willrotate therewith to thus cause the nozzle portion thereof to pass abovethe groups of needle control elements successively to direct blasts ofcompressed air downwardly onto the same for removing lint or otherforeign matter therefrom.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a fragmentary elevationof a circular knitting machine of the type having a cloth rack disposedthereabove with means for taking up the knitted fabric from the needlecylinder disposed therebelow as the fabric is knitted and showing theimproved air cleaner in association therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the bearing, showingthe improved rotary connection for directing compressed air through thebearing to the pipe which, in turn, directs blasts of compressed aironto the needle control elements and being taken substantially along theline 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation with parts in section ofthe lower portion of the tube shown in the left-hand central portion ofFigure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 broadlydesignates the frame of a circular knitting machine of the typesubstantially as that manufactured by Tompkins Bros. Company, Syracuse,New York, and which is generally known as a table model Tompkins DoubleHead Spring Needle Knitting Machine.

The frame in includes a standard H which rests upon a table top l2, thistable top having suitable mechanisms, not shown, disposed therebeneathfor driving a conventional needle cylinder 13 which is rotatably mountedon a base". The table also supports at least two groups of circularlyspaced needle control elements, each of the two groups shown in Figure 1being generally designated at [5 and I6, respectively. These groups ofneedle control elements I5 and I6 and the needle cylinder [3 are of wellknown construction and a detailed illustration and description thereofis deemed unnecessary. It might be stated, however, that the needles inthe needle cylinder l3 are controlled by the spaced groups of needlecontrol elements I5 and IS in a well known manner to form a tubularfabric 11 which extends upwardly substantially above the needle cylinderl3 and is taken up by a conventional take-up mechanism associated with acloth rack broadly designated at 20.

The cloth rack 20 is substantially rectangular in shape and includesupper and lower respective horizontal frame members 2| and 22 and sideframe members 23 and 24. The upper horizontal frame member 2| issupported for rotation, in a manner to be later described, in anoutwardly extending arm located at the upper end of the standard I I. Itwill be noted that as the fabric I! passes upwardly from the needlecylinder l3 to the cloth rack 26, it encircles a spreading mem ber 20awhich is usually elliptically-shaped and which is supported on a hubmember 26b suitably secured to the upper end of-a driven verticallydisposed shaft 280, this shaft 200 being driven by conventional means,not shown, at the same rate as that of the needle cylinder :3. Thespreading member 20a has the lower ends of upwardly diverging arms 20dand 20e thereon which are disposed within the tubular knitted fabric 11and which bear against the lower horizontal frame member 22 of the clothrack 20 to thereby cause the cloth rack 20 to rotate in unison with theneedle cylinder [3, the cloth rack 26 being disposed in axial alinementwith the needle cylinder I3.

The side frame members 23' and 24 support opposed ends of a cloth roll21- for rotational and vertical sliding movement therein, and as thecloth I1 is wound onto the roll 21, this portion of the clothsurrounding the roll 21 rests against a driven take-up roll 36, reducedopposed ends of which are rotatably mounted in the side frame members 23and 24. The cloth I"! also extends upwardly between the lower framemember 22,

and an intermediate rod 3| and idler roll 32 prior to passing over theroll and then about the cloth roll 21. The idler roll 32 and the rod 3|may be rotatably mounted in the side rails or side frame members 23-and- 24. The left-hand end' of the roll 30 in Figure 1 has a hand wheel34' thereon for manually taking up the slack in the tubular fabric IT.

The reduced right-hand end of the take-up roll 36 has a ratchet wheel-35' fixed thereon which is intermittently driven by a ratchet pawl 36,this ratchet pawl 36 being pivotally mounted onthe reduced right-handend of the roll 36. The ratchet pawl 36 is driven in areciprocatory'manner by means of a lower connecting rod extension 31'and an upper connecting rod extension 40, which are provided withrespective collars 4| and 42 fixed thereon, between which a compressionspring 43 is disposed. The proximate ends of the connecting rodextensions 31 and 46 are normally spaced apart from each other so a.

4| and 42 and the compression spring 43' may be collectivel referred toas a connecting rod.

The upper end of the connecting rod extension is pivotally connected, asat 45', on an eccentric arm 46 fixedly mounted on a shaft 41 whichextends inwardly and is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 56' and 5|suitably secured to the upper surface of the upper frame member 2| ofthe cloth rack 26.

The inner end of the shaft 41 has a stationary beveled gear 53 fixedthereon which meshes with a beveled gear 54 fixedl mounted on a reducedportion 55 (Figure 2) of a boss or hub portion 56 atthe outer end of thearm 25.

It is thus seen that, upon rotation of the cloth rack 2|! and the needlecylinder l3, the stationary beveled gear 54 will cause the beveled gear53 to rotate thereby causing the connecting rod, including the elements37, 40, 4|, 42 and 43 to thereby impart pivotal movement to the pawl 36and to thereby impart intermittent rotation 4 to the take-up roll 30 andto thus cause the cloth or fabric IT to be wound about the cloth roll21.

The hub or boss portion 56 of the arm 25 01' the frame I0 has avertically extending bore 60 therethrough in which a shaft 6| isrotatably mounted. The upper end of the hub portion 56 of the arm 25 ofthe frame l6 has a counterbore 62 therein in which a thrust bearingmember 63 is disposed, this bearing member 63 being fixedly secured tothe upper end of the shaft 6|. and. resting upon and in slidingrotational engagement with the shoulder formed at the juncture of thebore 60' and the counterbore 62.

The lower end of. the shaft 6| has an enlarged portion 64 integraltherewith which penetrates the upper frame member 2| of the cloth rack20 and a shoulder 640 formed by the juncture of the shaft 6| and theenlarged portion 64 on the lower end thereof supports the cloth rack 20.The upper frame member 2 of the cloth rack 20 is held against theshoulder 64:: of the shaft 6| by a collar 65 which is fixedly mounted onthe shaft 6 I. Thus, the shaft 6| supports the bar or upper frame member2| of the cloth rack 26 for rotation in the hub portion 56 of the arm25.

The parts heretofore described are the usual parts of a knittingmachine, except that shaft 6| is provided with a passageway 64 tocooperate with the new parts added, and it is with these parts that thepresent invention is particularly adapted to be associated. In view ofthe fact that the improved air cleaner, to be presently described,rotates with the cloth rack 20, it is necessary that compressed airinitially be directed to the improved air cleaner at the axis of. thecloth rack. 26. To this end, there is provided an improved rotary unioncomprising a stationary housing H which is provided with a passageway1-2 in the upper end thereof to which a pipe 13 extending from asuitable source of compressed air, not shown, is suitably connected forcommunication therewith.

There is disposed below the passageway 12 in the housing an enlarged airchamber or bore 14 which is provided with a shoulder 15' against whichthe outer race of a ball bearing 16 is disposed. Any type ofanti-friction or a friction bearing may be employed in lieu of the ballbearing 16, this ball bearing being shown by way of illustration only.The inner race of the ball bearing 16 is fixed on the upper end of aconduit or pipe by any suitable means such as by a pressed fit and thispipe 80 extends downwardly and loosely penetrates a cup-shaped glandmember 8| which is threadably mounted on the lower end of the housing1|.

The pipe or conduit 80 extends downwardly beyond the gland BI andslidably penetrates a. dome-like cap 82 and then is threadably embeddedin the upper end of the shaft 6| heretofore described. The shaft 6| isprovided with a longitudinally extending passageway 84 therein whichcommunicates with the pipe or conduit 80 and directs compressed airdownwardly through the passageway 84 to an elbow 85 which is suitablysecured in the lower end of the shaft 6| as by being threaded thereinto.This elbow has one end of a pipe 86 connected thereto.

The dome-shaped cap 82 is a usual part of knitting machines of this typebut has been modified to permit the pipe or conduit 80 to extendtherethrough and also has supporting means-such as a plurality ofcircularly spaced rods or bars 96 suitably secured thereto, as byweldend of the hub portion 56 in the arm25 by any suitable means such asset screws 91;

The pipe or tube 86 extends from the'elbow 85 outwardl adjacent thehorizontal frame member 2| of the cloth rack 20 and is then bentdownwardly to form a vertical portion 85a which; extends adjacent thevertical frame'member 23; of the cloth rack 20. The portion 86a, is thenbent inwardly adjacent the lower horizontal frame member 22 of the clothrack 20, forming a portion 86b which is then bent downwardly adjacentthe cloth or fabric H to form a stem portion 860. This portion 860 isbent inwardly towards the fabric to form a horizontal nozzle portion 866which is closed at its 'outer end, as at 92 (Figure 3), and the lowerwall of which is provided with a plurality of ports or exhaust openings93.-through which the compressed-air. is emitted and-directed onto thegroups of needle control elements l5 and 16' as the needle cylinder l3and the cloth rack 20 rotate in unison.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved air cleaner forcircular knitting machines of the type wherein the fabric or knittedmaterial passes upwardly from the rotating needle cylinder to a clothrack and wherein the knitting machine is provided with a plurality ofcircularly spaced groups of needle control elements, to thussuccessively remove accumulations of lint and other foreign materialfrom the groups of needle control elements to thereby obviate thenecessity of stopping the machine for cleaning or for repair as a resultof accumulations of lint causing breakage of various parts of themachine, such as the needles. It is evident that this will greatlyincrease the length of operation of the machine compared to knittingmachines of this type which have heretofore been in use and will resultin a higher quality of fabric than has heretofore been the case.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms have beenemployed they are used in a generic and descrip tive sense only and notfor purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined inthe claims.

We claim:

1. An improved air cleaner for circular knitting machines of the typehaving a rotating needle cylinder and also having circularly spacedgroups of needle control elements disposed adja cent the needle cylinderand also having a cloth rack spaced above the needle cylinder and saidcloth rack being rotatable with the needle cylinder and wherein thefabric knitted by the needle cylinder is directed upwardly to the clothrack to be taken up thereby, said knitting machine also having a framemember disposed above the cloth rack and a vertically disposed shaftrotatably mounted in the frame member for supporting the upper portionof the cloth rack for rotation, said shaft having a longitudinallyextending passage; way therethrough, said shaft having a pipe con- 6nected to the upper end thereof, a fixed housin disposed above said pipeand into which the pipe projects, a sealed bearing in said fixed housingthrough which the upper end of the pipe projects.

means for conducting compressed air to the interior of said fixedhousing, a pipe connected to the lower end of said shaft andcommunicating with the passageway in said shaft, said pipe being shapedto conform substantially to the configuration of the cloth rack andextending along the upper edge thereof and then being bent downwardly toextend along one side thereof and then being bent inwardly at its lowerend to form-a nozzle portion, said nozzle portion being disposedimmediately above the upper surfaces of said needle control elements,said nozzle being closed at its free end adjacent the knitted fabric andhaving a plurality of perforations in the bottom surface thereof wherebycompressed air will pass through the passageway'in said shaft and thusthrough the pipe to be emitted from the perforations in said nozzle andwhereby said pipe and its nozzle will rotate'with the cloth rackto'thereby-successively direct blasts of compressed'air ontothe spacedgroups of needle control elements for removing lint and foreign mattertherefrom. 2. An improved aircleanerfor circular knitting machines ofthe type having a rotating needle cylinder and also having circularlyspaced groups of needle control elementsdisposed'adjacent the needlecylinder and also'having a cloth rack spaced above the needle cylinderand wherein the fabric knitted by the needle cylinder is directedupwardly to the cloth rack to be taken up thereby, said knitting machinealso having a frame member disposed above the cloth rack and a shaftrotatably mounted in the frame member for supporting the upper portionof the cloth rack for rotation; said shaft being tubular, means fordirecting compressed air to the passageway in said shaft comprising astationary housing spaced above the frame member and means on said framemember for supporting said housing in spaced relation to the upper endof said shaft, said housing having an air chamber therein, a source ofcompressed air connected to said housing and communicating with said airchamber, a bearing member mounted in the air chamber, a conduit mountedfor rotation in said bearing member and extending downwardly therefrom,and the lower end of said conduit being connected to the upper end ofsaid shaft for communication with the passageway in said shaft, wherebycompressed air may flow from the source thereof through the air chamberand thus through the conduit to the passageway in the shaft to thus bedirected to the pipe having the nozzle thereon.

3. In a circular knitting machine having a 1'0- tatable needle cylinderand groups of needle control elements adjacent said needle cylinder andsaid machine also having a frame with an arm portion and a cloth rackfor taking up the fabric from said needle cylinder and being spacedabove said needle cylinder; an improved air cleaner for said needlecontrol elements comprising said arm having a hub portion, a verticalshaft rotatably mounted in said hub portion, said shaft having apassageway therethrough, a first pipe connected to the upper end of saidshaft and communicating with said passageway, a stationary housingsupported by said hub portion and having an air chamber therein, theupper end of said first pipe being rotatably mounted in said stationaryhousing and communicating with said chamber, a

'cecondpipe connected to said stationary housing and communicating withsaid chamber for introducing compressed air thereto, means securing theupper portion of said cloth rack to the lower portion of said shaft forrotation of the rack with said needle cylinder, and a third pipeconnected to the lower end of said shaft and extending downwardly aboutsaid cloth rack and having .a nozzle on the lower end thereof positionedadjacent the needle control elements, whereby, upon rotation of saidcloth rack, said nozzle will pols odiacent said needle control elementsand will direct air to said needle control elements to clear the same.

4. In a circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder andgroups of needle control elements adjacent said needle cylinder and saidmachine also having a frame with an arm portion and a clothrack fortaking up the fabric said needle cylinder and being spaced above saidneedle cylinder; an improved air cleaner for said needle controlelements comprising said arm having a hub portion, a vertical shaftrotatably mounted in said hub portion, said shaft having a passagewaytherethrough, a first pipe connected to the upper end of said shaft andcommunicatin: with said passageway, a stationary housing supported bysaid hub portion and having an air chamber therein, the upper end ofsaid first pipe being rotatably mounted in said stationary housing, andcommunicating with said chamber, a secand pipe connected to saidstationary housing and communicating with said chamber for inhoducingcompressed air thereto, means necurini the upper portion of said clothrack to the lower portion of said shaft for rotation of the rack with.said needle cylinder, a third pipe connected to the lower end of saidshaft and extending downwardly about said cloth rack and having a noz'deon the lower end thereof positioned adjacent the needle controlelements, whereby, upon rotation of said cloth rack, said nozzle willpass adjacent said needle control elements and will direct airReferences Cited in the nle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,325,023 Allred July 2'7, 1943 2,367,426 Patterson Jan. 16,1945 2,376,099 Swartz May 15, 1945 2,422,514 Allen June 17, 1947

